Bio
Micheal Delaney serves as a Vice President and Business Development Officer with Arboretum Wealth & Trust Management, where he focuses on business development for Arboretum’s personal trust management, guardianship administration, and special needs trust services.
Mr. Delaney brings over two decades of estate planning and elder law experience to his role, having practiced law since 2000. Before joining Arboretum in 2025, he co-founded DDV Law, Ltd., a boutique elder law firm, where he developed a deep understanding of the complex legal and personal issues facing aging individuals and their families. His extensive background as a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) allows him to provide meaningful support to attorneys and beneficiaries navigating the administration process.
Mr. Delaney earned his Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Illinois and his Juris Doctor (JD) from Lewis & Clark Law School. He is licensed to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court, the Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar, and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Appellate Bar. He is a past Chairperson of the Chicago Bar Association’s Elder Law Section and a former board member, Treasurer, Marketing Chair, and President of the National Elder Law Foundation. He also remains active in the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Chicago Bar Association Probate Law Forms Committee.
A frequent speaker and thought leader, Mr. Delaney has contributed to Illinois Jurisprudence, published by LexisNexis, and co-authored Ethics in Elder Law. He has presented at leading legal conferences on topics including elder abuse protection and the use of artificial intelligence in elder law practice.
Outside of work, Micheal is passionate about woodworking, kayaking, golfing, classic cars, and software engineering. He is also an avid cook and public speaker with a personal interest in game theory. He lives by the philosophy expressed in his favorite quote: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.”
